CSB- About three weeks ago my flight from Atlanta to Munich was rerouted to JFK. We had a passenger who was being an ass and bothering other flyers. After several warnings from the flight crew, they decided for safety to reroute. We landed at JFK a little heavier than a normal landing due to so much fuel remaining. We blew a tire but no real issue from that. FBI and NYPD came in and took the guy off. We were detained about 2.5 hours and in that time got some extra beverages and FREE pretzels. Just before departing JFK the purser came on the speaker and told us Delta is giving us all 100 USD for the hassle.. I got home, checked my email and sure enough, 100 bucks. End CSB

(By way of comparison: EU legislation mandates 250E for 3 hour delays on short haul, rising to 600E for long haul, plus free food and beverages)

United Continental and Air France each owe me at least €250 for two missed connections. They deny it and have sent me flight vouchers (because they say my initial flights were delayed < 3 hours) but recent EU rulings have said that if the first flight delays causes missed connections, and you arrive 3+ hours late, you're entitled to the compensation.

We'll see how the fight goes - will probably have to escalate to UK and French aviation authorities in both case to force them to pay up.

Pugdaddyk:CSB- About three weeks ago my flight from Atlanta to Munich was rerouted to JFK. We had a passenger who was being an ass and bothering other flyers. After several warnings from the flight crew, they decided for safety to reroute. We landed at JFK a little heavier than a normal landing due to so much fuel remaining. We blew a tire but no real issue from that. FBI and NYPD came in and took the guy off. We were detained about 2.5 hours and in that time got some extra beverages and FREE pretzels. Just before departing JFK the purser came on the speaker and told us Delta is giving us all 100 USD for the hassle.. I got home, checked my email and sure enough, 100 bucks. End CSB

No, before they hauled the guy off they should have let everyone on the plane beat the shiat out of him.

I have a little thing now where if I can drive there in a day (around 700 or so miles) that considering luggage, equipment, stress, and inconveniences, I'll forgo air travel and just take my car. For example, consider Birmingham, AL to Atlanta. The actual flight is about 45 minutes and the drive is about 2.5 hours. But getting to the airport an hour early, hoping the plane is in time, the flight, waiting for baggage, getting out of airport land, etc. turns the complete journey into about 3 hours.

Easy Reader:I have a little thing now where if I can drive there in a day (around 700 or so miles) that considering luggage, equipment, stress, and inconveniences, I'll forgo air travel and just take my car. For example, consider Birmingham, AL to Atlanta. The actual flight is about 45 minutes and the drive is about 2.5 hours. But getting to the airport an hour early, hoping the plane is in time, the flight, waiting for baggage, getting out of airport land, etc. turns the complete journey into about 3 hours.

Who in their right mind would fly anywhere they could deive in three hours?

FullMetalPanda:Pugdaddyk: CSB- About three weeks ago my flight from Atlanta to Munich was rerouted to JFK. We had a passenger who was being an ass and bothering other flyers. After several warnings from the flight crew, they decided for safety to reroute. We landed at JFK a little heavier than a normal landing due to so much fuel remaining. We blew a tire but no real issue from that. FBI and NYPD came in and took the guy off. We were detained about 2.5 hours and in that time got some extra beverages and FREE pretzels. Just before departing JFK the purser came on the speaker and told us Delta is giving us all 100 USD for the hassle.. I got home, checked my email and sure enough, 100 bucks. End CSB

No, before they hauled the guy off they should have let everyone on the plane beat the shiat out of him.

It was a pretty cool story but you're right, that would have made it perfect.

stratagos:Easy Reader: I have a little thing now where if I can drive there in a day (around 700 or so miles) that considering luggage, equipment, stress, and inconveniences, I'll forgo air travel and just take my car. For example, consider Birmingham, AL to Atlanta. The actual flight is about 45 minutes and the drive is about 2.5 hours. But getting to the airport an hour early, hoping the plane is in time, the flight, waiting for baggage, getting out of airport land, etc. turns the complete journey into about 3 hours.

Who in their right mind would fly anywhere they could deive in three hours?

What I'm saying is when you fly, it tends to be the major part of the day, so I'd rather just cut out the stress and drive up to around 750-800 miles. Other factors are in play of course--the nature of the trip, the time you're going to spend at your destination, what you need to carry with you....

No, before they hauled the guy off they should have let everyone on the plane beat the shiat out of him.

The flight attendant was telling the guy behind me that she had already told the guy that there are enough strong men on this plane to keep him in order but he was so drunk he didn't care. I didn't get a look at the guy. He was behind a bulkhead about 8 or so rows ahead of me.

The cool part of the csb is while landing, we flew directly over central park and that was a first for me. Also, the sun had just gone down and the sky was fire red. Just as we landed I was able to see the NY skyline silhouetted in that sky. Unforgettable. I think the captain should have cut the lights and we could have given the drunk a blanket party.

Easy Reader:stratagos: Easy Reader: I have a little thing now where if I can drive there in a day (around 700 or so miles) that considering luggage, equipment, stress, and inconveniences, I'll forgo air travel and just take my car. For example, consider Birmingham, AL to Atlanta. The actual flight is about 45 minutes and the drive is about 2.5 hours. But getting to the airport an hour early, hoping the plane is in time, the flight, waiting for baggage, getting out of airport land, etc. turns the complete journey into about 3 hours.

Who in their right mind would fly anywhere they could deive in three hours?

What I'm saying is when you fly, it tends to be the major part of the day, so I'd rather just cut out the stress and drive up to around 750-800 miles. Other factors are in play of course--the nature of the trip, the time you're going to spend at your destination, what you need to carry with you....

I have to say, that's a bit much IMHO. a 750 mile trip is at least a 12 hour drive. I feel like absolute crap after a 12 hour drive. OTOH, that's a two hour flight. If you know how to fly (i.e. carryon unless you absolutely must check bags), flying is nowhere near the stress of a 12 hour drive.

Flying sucks, to be sure, but the reality is that it is not that bad. You could hit an unusual delay but you could also get that driving if there's an accident ahead of you or your car breaks down or whatever. My wife and I do carry-on for almost all trips now. We did it for a three week trip to Italy and it was absolutely amazing to be able to go city-to-city with a very manageable amount of stuff. It's liberating to not drag a mountain of stuff you really don't need in a way, and it completely eliminates lining up to check bags at the start, the check bag fee, and waiting for bags at the end.

Jument:Easy Reader: stratagos: Easy Reader: I have a little thing now where if I can drive there in a day (around 700 or so miles) that considering luggage, equipment, stress, and inconveniences, I'll forgo air travel and just take my car. For example, consider Birmingham, AL to Atlanta. The actual flight is about 45 minutes and the drive is about 2.5 hours. But getting to the airport an hour early, hoping the plane is in time, the flight, waiting for baggage, getting out of airport land, etc. turns the complete journey into about 3 hours.

.......

What I'm saying is when you fly, it tends to be the major part of the day, so I'd rather just cut out the stress and drive up to around 750-800 miles. Other factors are in play of course--the nature of the trip, the time you're going to spend at your destination, what you need to carry with you....

I have to say, that's a bit much IMHO. a 750 mile trip is at least a 12 hour drive. I feel like absolute crap after a 12 hour drive. OTOH, that's a two hour flight. If you know how to fly (i.e. carryon unless you absolutely must check bags), flying is nowhere near the stress of a 12 hour drive.

Flying sucks, to be sure, but the reality is that it is not that bad. You could hit an unusual delay but you could also get that driving if there's an accident ahead of you or your car breaks down or whatever. My wife and I do carry-on for almost all trips now. We did it for a three week trip to Italy and it was absolutely amazing to be able to go city-to-city with a very manageable amount of stuff. It's liberating to not drag a mountain of stuff you really don't need in a way, and it completely eliminates lining up to check bags at the start, the check bag fee, and waiting for bags at the end.

Yes, there are pitfalls any way you go. I work in film production so I'm often traveling with some pelican cases and bags and a computer. Lately I've been telling producers that I'd rather just drive out for a three or 4 day shoot rather than fly and for about a year now I've found it to be much more pleasant just being on my own schedule and having complete control over my bags. I've had things stolen from checked bags like my Surefire pen and some laser pointers.

Jument:My wife and I do carry-on for almost all trips now. We did it for a three week trip to Italy and it was absolutely amazing to be able to go city-to-city with a very manageable amount of stuff. It's liberating to not drag a mountain of stuff you really don't need in a way, and it completely eliminates lining up to check bags at the start, the check bag fee, and waiting for bags at the end.

If I may ask, how did you manage to reduce three weeks worth of luggage to a set of carry-on bags?

Easy Reader:I have a little thing now where if I can drive there in a day (around 700 or so miles) that considering luggage, equipment, stress, and inconveniences, I'll forgo air travel and just take my car. For example, consider Birmingham, AL to Atlanta. The actual flight is about 45 minutes and the drive is about 2.5 hours. But getting to the airport an hour early, hoping the plane is in time, the flight, waiting for baggage, getting out of airport land, etc. turns the complete journey into about 3 hours.

That's been my approach as well, only my personal limit is more like 1200 miles. I can't afford my own jet plane, but I can afford a nice road car.

anfrind:Jument: My wife and I do carry-on for almost all trips now. We did it for a three week trip to Italy and it was absolutely amazing to be able to go city-to-city with a very manageable amount of stuff. It's liberating to not drag a mountain of stuff you really don't need in a way, and it completely eliminates lining up to check bags at the start, the check bag fee, and waiting for bags at the end.

If I may ask, how did you manage to reduce three weeks worth of luggage to a set of carry-on bags?

/planning a four-week trip to the British Isles next year

I did 4 weeks in Europe out of a Tom Bihn Aeronaut and Filson 257. With those two bags and a good set of packing cubes/folders I think 5-6 weeks is doable.

anfrind:Jument: My wife and I do carry-on for almost all trips now. We did it for a three week trip to Italy and it was absolutely amazing to be able to go city-to-city with a very manageable amount of stuff. It's liberating to not drag a mountain of stuff you really don't need in a way, and it completely eliminates lining up to check bags at the start, the check bag fee, and waiting for bags at the end.

If I may ask, how did you manage to reduce three weeks worth of luggage to a set of carry-on bags?

/planning a four-week trip to the British Isles next year

Travel undergarments are a big part of it: designed to dry quickly. Wash a couple in the sink (or easier, while you shower) and dry them in your room. The other part is to be absolutely ruthless. You are going to wear everything multiple times on a multi-week trip anyways, so you may as well wear each item 10+ times instead of just 4+ times. If something gets dirty, wash it in your room with shampoo. On vacation nobody cares if you're basically just alternating between two or three outfits.

I went with three pairs of Exofficio (Amazon carries) underwear and two Exofficio undershirts, plus three tops, one or two pairs of lightweight shorts, one pair of long pants (I went with jeans). A couple of thin but warm items to layer. One pair of walking shoes and one pair of running shoes. A couple of pairs of socks. ~~On cold days we joked that we wore every piece of clothing we brought with us. :)

Apart from the bare minimum of clothing do not pack anything you will not use every single day. If it turns out you really need it, you can always buy one over there. Better that than lugging it around every day for weeks and never touching it.

If you're some kind of fashionista and the idea of not having dinner ensembles freaks you out, I can't help you. We travel to see the sights and enjoy our destination. We try to look presentable but let's face it: we're tourists. Nobody gives a rat's ass how we look as long as we're not offending anyone. We are there to see, not to be seen.

I will say this: it's harder for a woman. My wife has gone from a two-oversized-bag-for-a-weekend traveler to a three-week-carry-on traveler. I can't exactly say how she did it but she also was ruthless and once she got over the pain she became a total convert.